Data management for mobile data system

ABSTRACT

A data architecture provides mobile clients with the ability to gain access to business enterprise data sources through configurable Views that interface with the data sources through Data Objects that are defined by Commands, which in turn communicate with the data sources through Connectors (also referred to as Adapters). Each type of View will interface to the data sources with a different functionality so that communications links and other system resources can be used more efficiently. The View types can include Direct Views, Derived Views, Delegated Views, and Definition Views.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENTS

This application claims benefit of priority of: co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/664,121 entitled “Data Management for Mobile Data System”, by Robert O'Farrell et al., filed Mar. 21, 2005; co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/664,088 entitled “Modular Applications for Mobile Data System”, by Robert Loughan, filed Mar. 21, 2005; co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/664,122 entitled “Adapter Architecture for Mobile Data System”, by Robert O'Farrell et al., filed Mar. 21, 2005; and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/667,816 entitled “Modular Applications Management for Mobile Data System”, by Robert O'Farrell et al., filed Apr. 1, 2005. Priority of the respective filing dates is hereby claimed, and the disclosures of these Provisional Patent Applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to mobile computing systems and, more particularly, to data management and data deployment in mobile computing systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Sophisticated customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are available to improve the automation of back office and front office processes. Although many companies have realized significant savings and efficiencies from deploying such systems, it is also true that many organizations find the systems burdensome to implement and difficult to integrate with existing legacy data systems.

More recently, business organizations and enterprises are deploying CRM and ERP systems to assist mobile employees, primarily to utilize mobile computing devices such as pagers and cell phones and also personal digital assistants (PDAs). One important impediment to greater adoption of CRM and ERP systems that employ such mobile devices involve integration with other data in the enterprise.

Enterprise data integration issues can arise because mobile applications often come in proprietary, closed architectures that impede integration with other data systems of the enterprise. For example, data in the enterprise might be maintained in four or five different sources. Some of the data sources include CRM systems, dispatch systems, ERP systems, and financial records systems. Each of these data sources can utilize a different data architecture, format, and protocol. The data being stored and the configuration of the data and access mechanisms are constantly changing. Many mobile computing systems create an interim datastore in which data from the various sources in the enterprise is collected. In this way, data from the different enterprise data sources, each with a different data architecture and format, can be collected in a single common database. The mobile users can access the enterprise data by accessing the interim datastore, rather than the actual enterprise data sources. The interim store, however, creates data update and conflict issues of its own. Synchronization operations and other safeguards must be performed frequently, to ensure that the data in the interim datastore is a faithful copy of the data in the enterprise data sources.

It is known to provide a data integration solution that can utilize mobile computing devices that interface to enterprise data sources through a network server. Such a system is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/746,229 filed Dec. 23, 2003 assigned to Dexterra, Inc. of Bothell, Wash., USA. The contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.

The Dexterra, Inc. patent application describes a system in which data is utilized between multiple enterprise data sources to mobile clients in a distributed fashion such that requests from a mobile client for enterprise data are received, the appropriate enterprise data sources that contain the requested data are determined, and the enterprise data is retrieved from the determined enterprise data sources. When the enterprise data is retrieved, it is converted into a relational format, even if the data comes from multiple enterprise data sources of different non-relational types (e.g. File System, email, etc). The converted enterprise data is stored in a relational datastore in the mobile client. In this way, mobile applications can be fully integrated with data from multiple enterprise data sources and data updates and configuration changes can be distributed to and from the mobile clients in real time, without using interim data storage, and thereby avoiding complicated synchronization and asynchronous data issues between the enterprise data sources and the mobile clients. The real time data changes can include deployment of changes to the mobile application itself, as well as data updates. The real time changes are further accommodated with data conflict detection and resolution.

The Dexterra, Inc. system referenced above is based on a system architecture in which target enterprise data sources contain objects or data tables, and each target data table is mapped to a data object called a View. That is, a View is defined that corresponds to each data table in the enterprise data sources from which the application will obtain data. The Views can be defined by the application developer, or from another vendor. The data in the Views are shared among one or more data entities referred to as Business Objects. A single Business Object can utilize data from multiple Views, and therefore can utilize data from multiple enterprise data sources, even from data sources that have incompatible data formats. In the system, data objects called Connectors provide a data sharing interface with the enterprise data sources.

Once a set of Business Objects is defined, application developers can design applications while dealing with data through their interface to the Business Objects, rather than get involved in describing and defining the Views and Connectors. Thus, developers are presented with a format-free data interface, so that differences in targets are abstracted out from the developer.

The system described in the Dexterra, Inc. patent application referenced above provides a powerful development tool for the mobile computing platform that permits access to a variety of enterprise data sources. Even greater adaptability in the configuration of the View data, however, could extend the capabilities of the system and provide greater flexibility. The present invention provides such greater View configuration capabilities.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the invention, mobile clients gain access to business enterprise data sources through configurable Views that interface with the data sources through Data Objects that are defined by Commands, which in turn communicate with the data sources through Connectors (also referred to as Adapters). Each type of View will interface to the data sources with a different functionality so that communications links and other system resources can be used more efficiently. For example, the View types can include Direct Views, Derived Views, Delegated Views, and Definition Views. These new View types can provide greater control over data interfaces and can be configured for greater utilization of system resources.

Direct Views are Views that retrieve data directly from an enterprise data source. Derived Views request data from a server that retrieves a base set of associated data at runtime from the enterprise data sources and then places the retrieved data into a relational data engine (RDE) that applies Derived View filter parameters to extract filtered data and provide it to the requesting Derived View type. The Delegated View will periodically retrieve data from the enterprise data sources and will place the retrieved data into a Relational Data Engine cache from which subsequent mobile client requests for enterprise data can be filled, thereby reducing the data traffic between the mobile client and the data sources. The Definition View permits control over where retrieved data is maintained, either at the system server or at the mobile client, thereby extending control over utilization of system resources.

Other features and advantages of the present invention should be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, which illustrates, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a suitable computer system environment for a mobile enterprise platform constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the logical architecture of data in the mobile enterprise platform illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates the Connector interface between the enterprise data sources and the mobile client of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a suitable computer system environment 400 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the Derived View data flow using the View architecture in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of the data architecture for the mobile platform illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the data access configuration for the mobile platform constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a display on a computer device that is hosting the DAD computer program application.

FIG. 9 shows a tree view and context menu generated by the DAD program when “Datasource Types” is selected on the Dexterra Explorer menu.

FIG. 10 shows selection of the Data Sources menu item from the FIG. 9 display.

FIG. 11 shows selection of a particular datasource type, from which a context menu is generated.

FIG. 12 shows View types that are available for selection.

FIG. 13 shows a Data Sources Properties dialog box that is generated by utilizing a Data Sources context menu to create a new type of Data Source.

FIG. 14 shows an authentication screen for DAD login information and choose a particular enterprise datasource target.

FIG. 15 shows a designer making a Command selection from the tree view.

FIG. 16 shows a “New Command” dialog box in response to selection in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows the Parameters tab of the Add Command dialog.

FIG. 18 shows the tree view with a new Command called “CustomerQuery” that has been added.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram that illustrates operations of a computer system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a mobile data integration system constructed in accordance with the invention, mobile clients running an application interface with enterprise data sources through configurable View objects that access data through Data Objects that are defined in terms of Command objects that interface with the enterprise data sources through Adapters (also called Connectors). The multiple types of Views that are supported can provide greater adaptability to thereby extend the capabilities of the system and provide greater flexibility. Each type of View will interface to the data sources with a different functionality so that communications links and other system resources can be used more efficiently.

As described further below, in the illustrated embodiment, the View types include Direct Views, Derived Views, Defined Views, and Designated Views. A Direct View will retrieve data directly from an enterprise data source via the Data Objects, Commands, and Adapters. A Derived View will incorporate filter parameters and will request data from a server that retrieves a base set of associated data at runtime from the enterprise data sources and then places the retrieved data into a relational data engine (RDE) that applies the Derived View filter parameters to extract filtered data and provide it to the requesting Derived View type. The Delegated View will periodically retrieve data from the enterprise data sources according to parameters of the Delegated View and will place the retrieved data into a Relational Data Engine cache. Subsequent requests from mobile clients for enterprise data can be filled by getting the requested data from the RDE cache rather than directly from the enterprise data sources, thereby reducing the data traffic between the mobile client and the data sources. Updated data from mobile clients is returned directly to the enterprise data sources through the Adapters. A Definition View permits control over where retrieved data is maintained, either at the system server or at the mobile client. The extent of system resources will generally determine selection between the two configurations.

A base configuration of an exemplary base system architecture is described below in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. In the preferred embodiment of a mobile client data system that incorporates the configurable View objects of the present invention, the system utilizes an Adapter-Command-Data Object architecture. The Adapter-Command-Data Object is described further below in terms of architectural changes from the system of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 at “V. Adapter Architecture” in conjunction with FIG. 4. The configurable View objects are described in greater detail below at “VI. View Types” in conjunction with FIG. 5.

I. System Overview

The present invention provides a system in which data is utilized from multiple enterprise data sources to mobile clients executing mobile applications such that the mobile applications are integrated with the multiple enterprise data sources, and data updates and configuration changes can be distributed to and received from the mobile clients in real time, without using interim data storage. The elimination of an interim data storage facility avoids complicated synchronization and asynchronous data issues between the enterprise data sources and the mobile clients. Thus, data updates and system configuration updates for the mobile application can be communicated from the enterprise to the mobile clients, and from the mobile clients to the enterprise, in real time. No special synchronization operation is needed, as changes can be propagated through the system in real time.

II. System Platform

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a suitable computer system environment 100 constructed as described in the above-referenced Dexterra, Inc. patent application. in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a mobile client device 102, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device that operates in conjunction with the Microsoft PocketPC or Palm PDA operating systems. The mobile client device communicates over a network connection 104 with an application server 106 to request data from the server and receive data updates, provide new data, and receive configuration changes. It should be understood that multiple mobile clients 102 can communicate with the server 106. Only a single client device 102 is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of drawing simplicity.

The mobile clients 102 consume the server-side connector web services for real time data retrieval from multiple enterprise data stores. Additionally, the mobile clients consume the server-side data manager web services for the management of real-time client-side data updates, server side data updates and system configuration updates.

The application server 106 communicates with enterprise data sources 108, such as CRM data sources, ERP sources, financial system resources, legacy data stores, and the like. The exemplary enterprise data sources illustrated in FIG. 1 include data including “Siebel” software from Siebel Systems, Inc. of San Mateo, Calif., USA; “Oracle” software from Oracle Corporation of Redwood Shores, Calif., USA; “SAP” software from SAP AG of Walldorf, Germany; and legacy software. The administrator application 110 and a developer application 112 communicate with the application server 106, which also stores metadata 114 for the system, as described further below.

The application server 106 provides data manager, configuration, and data connector web services for data interchange and updating, user authentication, security, and logging services. The application server also handles business process management in the form of business information and rules.

The mobile client 102 also includes a datastore 116 that includes a relational data base 118 that stores business data 120 and also a relational database that stores metadata 122 for application execution on the mobile client. An application 124 that is installed at the mobile client 102 includes various software components that perform suitable functions. For example, the application might comprise a field service application that informs field service personnel as to a location at which service has been requested, explains the nature of the service request, and provides for logging the service visit and settling the account. The application 124 may include multiple applications that process the data requested by the mobile client 102.

The administrator application 110 and developer application 112 together comprise a “Studio” component 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the administrator and developer are provided as two separate applications, and provide a means to configure the system, including the metadata data and application interfaces.

The system 100 comprises a mobile enterprise platform that supports the service application 124. The system provides a set of Web services that effectively deploy and manage mobilized software solutions to enhance mobile business processes. Common examples include integrating to CRM or ERP, sales force automation (SFA), and customer support and help desk functions for an enterprise. Such enterprise applications depend on cross-application interaction, in that data from one function or system is often used by a different function or system. When executed on the mobile client, the existing application functionality and enterprise information is utilized among multiple enterprise software applications, legacy data systems, and mobile workers. In this way, a significant return on investment can be achieved for these applications and for the mobile enterprise platform.

The mobile enterprise platform 100 provides Web services that simplify the use of mobile clients and associated portable devices in the field. These Web services include a data manager function, a configuration function, and a connector function. These will be described in greater detail below. The applications 124 that are installed on the mobile clients 102 can be fully functional in any connected or disconnected state, after they have been properly initiated by the application server 106.

III. Logical Architecture

Any client application that makes use of the Mobile Enterprise Platform illustrated in FIG. 1 will utilize the system components illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 2. These components include:

-   -   Business Objects—programmable objects based on business         concepts, combining fields and relating information from         different enterprise data sources. (e.g. data sources such as         Customer, Contacts, Assets, Tasks, etc.).     -   Business Rules—custom logic to enforce business processes         utilizing business constants with checks applied against         business data from the enterprise data sources.     -   Business Constants—A user-configurable variable for use         throughout the client applications, and client and server-side         business rules (e.g. Business Rules, Warning Messages, and the         like).     -   Datasource Connectors—data source connectors designed to         seamlessly provide access to a wide variety of enterprise data         sources (e.g. databases such as those formatted according to         Oracle and SQL Server, messaging systems such as MQ Series or         MSMQ, CRM applications such as Siebel or Peoplesoft, generic web         services, and so forth).     -   Business Process—metaphors, such as a “Force Flow” process of         Dexterra, Inc. of Bothell, Wash., U.S.A., that defines a         form-to-form navigation paradigm for modeling business         processes.     -   Forms—a combination of standard visual display screens (e.g.,         View, Edit, Find, and the like) with event driven logic that are         designed to show information, gather information, and direct the         user through a given business process, referred to herein as         either a “ForceFlow” or a “FieldFlow”.     -   Views—A modifiable representation of the data identified from an         enterprise datasource or application that is utilized by one or         more Business Objects.     -   Filters—A Filter that can be applied to a View to modify the         data available to a Business Object.

These components can be used to specify the configuration (logical architecture) of any client application that is constructed utilizing a technology framework such as the Microsoft Corporation “.NET” and tools such as Microsoft Corporation's “Visual Studio .NET”. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with such programming tools to specify an application and its associated data objects.

The Mobile Enterprise Platform illustrated in FIG. 1 is implemented as a metadata driven framework. The framework provides integrated client and server web services, enabling the connection, configuration, and data management services necessary to deploy fail-safe, mission-critical mobile enterprise solutions.

FIG. 2 illustrates that, in the mobile enterprise platform of FIG. 1, the structure of relational database tables and external application business objects are mapped to views as metadata. One or more views are consumed by Business Objects, also defined in metadata, which are in turn utilized by the mobile application. The mobile application utilizes a client framework, referred to as the “Dexterra Smartclient”, which manages the instantiation of the Business Objects, Local Data Access to the underlying physical database that resides on the mobile client device, Device integration, as well as the client-server data communication via the data manager and/or connector web services. Within the platform, specifications for all logical layers (e.g., Business Objects, Views, Filters, and Connectors) are defined and maintained within the metadata.

The mobile enterprise platform is architected as a logical stack, designed to insulate layers in the logical architecture from all but non-adjacent members. At the bottom of the logical stack, the Target layer, is data that resides in back-end, enterprise data sources. The platform works with the source data in place, and does not require information within the back-end system of record to be replicated to a middle-tier replication database. That is, no interim datastore is needed. This provides flexibility in design, as well as real time data access and can help reduce total cost of ownership of the platform and applications, and assists simplification of data management processes.

The next layer up in the logical stack is the Connector layer. The Connector layer provides a programmatic construct that describes the back-end datastore to the application server in a relational format. The information regarding how to connect to an enterprise data source, as well as the security settings (such as authentication methods and user and group definitions) are stored within metadata, and are maintained using the Administrator component.

The next layer in the stack is the View layer, which comprises objects that provide a one-to-one mapping to an object or table in a back-end, enterprise data source. For example, if a back-end system has a table called CUST_ADDR (customer address), and data from that table is required for use in an application, then a View will be created in the Administrator component. The Administrator View might be called, for example, CUSTOMER_ADDRESS, to represent that data in the environment of the mobile enterprise platform, outside of the enterprise data sources. It should be understood that a View has properties that correspond to the properties or columns of the data object in the back-end system. However, it is not required that all properties in the back end data source are required as properties in the View. Indeed, the properties required are defined in the administrative component and stored as metadata In the example just provided, the properties might include fields such as ID, STREET_ADDR, CITY, STATE, and ZIP_CODE.

Additionally, the user can define the data types of the properties within the View, and these data types can be independent of the data types of the corresponding properties in the enterprise data source. Other options of the view properties that can be identified are unique identifier, read only, indexing, required property and length. All the above information is stored as metadata.

The View layer also provides an indication of data conflicts, and provides a means for resolving such conflicts. Data conflicts can occur, for example, whenever there are data changes between what is being uploaded from the mobile client and what exists at the server. Resolution of such conflicts can be performed at the View layer, enforcing business rules such as permitting the most recent data change to always take precedence, or permitting data changes from a particular source (e.g., either the mobile client or an enterprise data source) to take precedence depending on the data type (e.g. field data or customer account data). This is described further below, in conjunction with the Data Manager Web Service.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the Views can be defined against multiple objects in multiple datastores, thus providing flexibility in application deployment and in the use of in-place systems, without the burden of data replication. As with the Connectors, the definitions of Views are stored in metadata, and are managed with the Administrator. Those skilled in the art will understand details of data definitions in metadata, without further explanation. As noted above, Filters can be applied to the Views, to modify the data that is passed to the next layer. The Administrator provides View management features, including a Views Wizard that automatically creates Views based upon the object interface or table definition of the back-end datastore objects (from the enterprise data sources).

The next layer up in the FIG. 2 diagram includes the Business Objects, which are mapped, or associated with, one or more Views. A Business Object of the platform is the programmatic entity with which a developer will interface with when building customizing mobile applications. The Business Objects include multiple properties, each of which can be of a simple data type, or can be another Business Object. Because the Business Objects of the platform can be mapped to multiple Views, developers can work with a single entity that represents data sourced from multiple, heterogeneous data sources. Thus, a single Business Object defined in accordance with the mobile enterprise platform of the invention can include data from multiple, potentially incompatible enterprise data sources, such as from different proprietary formats.

In creating or modifying applications for the mobile applications and mobile client devices, developers can interact solely with the Business Object layer. This insulates the developers from any requirement to understand or interact directly with the back-end systems (enterprise data sources) for the source data. In this way, the Business Object layer provides an object-based interface for application developers, abstracting the details of persistence and retrieval of data. There is no need for the developer to directly interact with the local datastore on the mobile device. In addition, due to the nature of disconnected data, the mobile client, through the Business Object interface, automatically manages the processing of data changes, by storing data changes locally in the client that will be passed to the application server during an Update process. This further insulates developers from this rote programming task.

The Business Objects exist on the mobile client device as metadata, and are also managed using the Administrator (FIG. 1). The use of metadata throughout the mobile enterprise platform provides an environment in which the attributes and behavior of most data entities can be configured through a graphical user interface rather than coded.

The metadata-driven nature of the mobile enterprise platform enables performing business processes on the mobile client through a stateless server architecture. Through the metadata, the mobile application can be configured and customized. The metadata defines the structure of the business objects referencing the business enterprise data to the mobile device and defines the events that trigger business rules that govern the business processes.

The metadata database contains the reference of the cross-functional, cross-application back-end business information that is exposed through the Connectors to configure a business object. This process is accomplished through the Studio component (FIG. 1) to configure and reference the connecting enterprise data source business information with the Business Objects. This provides the path to the specific data for the mobile applications, ensuring that no business data from an enterprise data source is stored in its native data format on the application server or on any other interim datastore of the system for data updates. This non-invasive and real time synchronous approach using the metadata permits the mobile enterprise platform to effectively connect to back-end systems with a minimum amount of disruption while maximizing cross-functional data access, data consistency, and data integrity.

IV. Mobile Enterprise Platform Components

A. Mobile Applications

As noted above, the mobile client 102 (FIG. 1) can include installed applications 124 that implement business processes of the enterprise. The application can leverage the mobile enterprise platform described above, and demonstrates how the application instantiates the business objects which drive the business process configured in metadata.

For example, Task or Work Order information would be provided to the mobile application through views and would be accessed via a business object. In retrieval of the business data via the view definition, using the data manager web service, the business object can deliver the business data to the mobile application to describe the tasks. This data is stored on a local relational database on the mobile device. When an update to the task data is committed to the task business object in a request from the application, the Smartclient application will persist the changes to the view defined datastore on the mobile client, then the Smartclient manages the data updates back to the original data source via the data manager web service, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

By utilizing the depth, breadth, and power of web services (e.g., connection, configuration, and data manager services) that are available in the mobile enterprise platform described herein, a large suite of mobile applications can easily be constructed, including applications such as sales force productivity, customer service, and support solutions. Such applications can be integrated with a broad set of vertical applications including oil/gas, healthcare/medical and financial service industry solutions.

B. Server Components

The application server is a type of metadata-driven platform application and provides information, applications, and business processes to the mobile client, and ensures managed data integrity between the mobile enterprise platform and a host of back-end enterprise data sources. The application server is a process-based, high performance solution built on the “.NET” technology from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., U.S.A. Using the “.NET” technology, the mobile enterprise solution is a framework that is Web Services native through the use of XML and SOAP for data exchange and transport. The application server provides three core Web Services, as shown in the functional architecture diagram of FIG. 1:

Connector Web Service

-   -   The Connector Web Service delivers non-invasive integration of         the existing enterprise applications infrastructure while         maintaining control of the Data-integrity Conditions between the         mobile clients and the discrete enterprise data sources.

Configuration Web Service

-   -   The Configuration Web Service manages the metadata defining the         business data, business objects, business rules, business         constants, and system configuration such as authentication,         logging, security, and roles that encompass the mobile         applications that are passed to the mobile client—the component         application that is resident on the mobile device.

Data Manager Web Service

-   -   The Data Manager Web Service orchestrates the update         interactions between the mobile client application, the         application server, and the third-party enterprise data sources.         Additionally the Data Manager Web Service provides the ability         to directly communicate with the connector layer for real-time         queries. The Data Manager Web Service delivers flexibility in         the manner that manages the various conditions concerning         multiple updates by multiple users to the multiple enterprise         data sources to enforce the integrity of the data. The Data         Manager Web Service can do this via the application server or         direct to any API and/or third-party published Web Service.     -   In this way, the Data Manager Web Service can manage deployment         of application updates and data changes throughout the mobile         clients of the system.

Each of these components will next be described in greater detail.

1. Connector Web Service

The Connector Web Service is designed to support communication with any ODBC-compliant data source or Web Service API. The Connector Web Service allows a customer to define and build views based on data stored in one or more third-party systems. The Connector Web Service has a published interface that allows for standard bulk updates as well as real-time data access from a mobile client.

The Connector Web Service provides the physical layer connection between the application server meta-application and the specific interface of the enterprise data sources. The connectors support database dispute management and notification services, transaction management, and error handling. In a default customer configuration, the mobile enterprise platform system is deployed to customers with an ODBC or Web Service connector. Those skilled in the art will be able to produce connectors to the most common enterprise systems, such as Siebel, SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle, SQL Server, and the like.

For example, an “Oracle” applications connector allows a customer to make calls to Oracle support services, either through the closest data constructs the customer has to APIs (such as PL/SQL procedures) or directly to the enterprise database itself via ODBC. As with all of the ODBC connectors the dynamically interrogation of the RDBMS schema is automatically executed, exposing the specific physical design of the database. This gives the customer a hierarchical view of the actual interfaces into that system.

FIG. 3 shows an example of how the Connectors interface the enterprise data sources to the mobile enterprise platform. On the left side of FIG. 3 are representations of multiple enterprise data sources, including an ERP data source 302, a CRM data source 304, an HR/Finance data source 306, a Legacy/ODBC data source 308, and can include other Web Services or other sources (not shown). In the middle portion of FIG. 3 is a representation of the metadata 312 that specifies to the application server 314 how data from the different enterprise data sources will be stored and related in the mobile client 316, which is represented at the right side of FIG. 3.

Thus, in this example, data identified as ORDER_ID exists in the ERP data source. Data identified as F_NAME and L_NAME exists in the CRM data source. Data identified as CRED_LIM exists on the HR/Finance data source, and data identified as WARRANTY is stored in the Legacy/ODBC data source. All of these identified data are stored in enterprise data sources, such as at back-end office systems.

In the metadata 312, the data definition from the enterprise data sources is mapped to views that are used to create the data store on the client and store the relevant business data on the mobile client from the enterprise data sources in a relational database. Access to this business data is performed via a the business object layer defined and stored in metadata on the mobile client. As shown in FIG. 3, the ORDER_ID from the ERP data source is mapped to a business object property called OrderID, whose relational definition is stored in metadata 318 on the mobile client 316 and utilized by one or more the mobile applications also defined in metadata. The F_NAME data from the CRM enterprise data source is mapped to (stored into) the FirstName business object property definition stored in the mobile client database, and the L_NAME data is mapped to the LastName business object property. Similarly, the CRED_LIM data from the HR/Finance data source is mapped to the CreditLimit business object property, and the WARRANTY data from the Legacy/ODBC data source is mapped to the Warranty business object property. Thus, data from the potentially dissimilar and incompatible disparate enterprise data sources 302, 304, 306, 308, 310 are delivered to the mobile client through the Data Manager Web Services to the local data store (represented by the lines from the enterprise data sources to the application server 314) in the proper format for access using one of the business objects on the mobile client (indicated in the mobile client 316 with actual values).

Connector Types

The connectors that are supported by the Connector Web Service include the following three connector types:

-   -   1. The Web Services connector is used when the mobile platform         is connecting to a third-party system (a) that is either non         ODBC-compliant, or (b) does not allow ODBC/RDBMS connectivity,         or (c) whose interface is defined by a standard API and can be         wrapped and defined by Web Service Descriptor Language (WSDL).     -   2. The ODBC/RDBMS connector is used when connecting the mobile         platform to a third-party system (a) that is ODBC compliant         and (b) allows for direct ODBC/RDBMS access and (c) whose data         is located physically within the same LAN environment or         accessible via a communication protocol supportive of the         transport (such as RPC, TCP, etc.).     -   3. The API connector is similar to the Web Services Connector         but (a) requires the API to be accessible via non internet         protocols such as RPC and (b) is used if the Web Services         Interface is not available.

Reading schema, via the ODBC/RDBMS connector, information is accomplished through the use of the Studio portion 130 (FIG. 1) of the mobile enterprise platform, using the Administrator application. The Studio portion is used to configure the View definition mapping to the backend data source and map the definition of one or more Views to one or more Business Objects. When defining the View definition or mapping the Views to Business Objects, using the administrator, the information is stored as metadata. During an update process with the application server and enterprise data source, the metadata is read to determine how to read, persist and remove the data (select/insert/update/delete functions) while managing and enforcing the data integrity using such functions as conflict detection/resolution, transactions both inherent and compensating where appropriate.

Using the ODBC/RDBMS connector, data is read, persisted and/or removed via ANSI SQL statements and/or stored procedures in the case of Microsoft Corporations SQL Server or Oracle's RDBMS (8i, 9i, etc.). Using the Web Services/API connector, data is read, persisted and/or removed by calling the appropriate API function or method for the transaction.

2. Configuration Web Service

The Configuration Web Service consumed by the Dexterra Studio provides an easy interoperable way for administrators, business analysts and developers to implement, configure, and administer the Dexterra Mobile Enterprise solution. The Configuration Web Service allows for easy manipulation of the metadata used to configure and customize the data and process definitions of Mobile applications. This service will be better understood with reference to the features of the Administrator component, which is described in greater detail below.

3. Data Manager Web Service

Update Process Model

An update process model is utilized in the system, in which mobile applications update their locally held data (either the application or its business objects) with the backend enterprise database using a set of core Net components that are exposed as Web Services for easy interoperability.

The Data Manager Web Service updates the mobile application and all its associated business objects defined data. The Update process model enables two-way data transfer between the enterprise datasources via the Dexterra application server and the mobile client, allowing updates to be made while the mobile client is connected to the network, merging the updates between clients when they are connected. When in the disconnected state, updates are managed in the client environment, until a time at which a connected state is attained and the update request can be initiated.

The update process model takes the “all or nothing” approach. If a failure occurs before the entire stream is downloaded from the application server onto the mobile client (or before the entire stream is uploaded from the client to the server), then the Data Manager Web Service on the application server does not receive a confirmation on the download transaction (or upload). As a result, the server carries the intelligence to manage the client state as to whether it requires a roll back of data or simply a retry. When the mobile client performs an update process operation the second time, the application server takes into account the original information state and may either deliver the results if the application server has processed or process again in the event all the required information was never received by the application server thus enforcing the reliable deliver of information once and only once between the mobile client and application server. This, in event, enforces the integrity of the data as it moves from mobile client to one or more back end data sources.

Update Process Breakdown

Two types of update processing are supported:

-   -   1: Get Latest: In this update type, the mobile client makes a         request to get the latest information from the enterprise data         sources via the Dexterra application server. The Dexterra         application server process the request and retrieves the         business information from the multiple data sources using the         Dexterra Connector Web Service and delivers the business         information to the mobile client.     -   2: Update (2-way update): In this update type, records on both         the client and server end are interchanged enforcing the         integrity of the data on both the mobile client and the back end         enterprise data sources using Dexterra Conflict Resolution         configured parameters.

Conflict Detection/Resolution

Conflict resolution describes the rules used to arbitrate on data conflicts caused by changes made between a mobile client and one or more back end enterprise data sources. This is performed first by identifying the conflict (Detecting) and then resolving (Resolution) the conflict in one or more various ways.

The Dexterra application server can detect conflicts in one of three ways: Revision, Date/Time Stamp or Manual as well as identify a conflict situation by row or column level.

Revision is a setting where a specific field or property is identified in a single record source as revisioned and the Dexterra application Server will use this to determine whether data has been changed on either the back end data source or the mobile client.

Date/Time Stamp

Date/Time Stamp is a setting where a specific field or property is identified in a single record source as date/time stamp and updated upon any insert/update or delete and the Dexterra application Server will use this to determine whether data has been changed on either the back end data source or the mobile client.

Manual is a setting where there is no specific field or property to identify a conflict situation in a single record source therefore the Dexterra application Server compares all the field or property data to define uniqueness and detect whether data has been changed on either the back end data source or the mobile client.

Depending on configuration of the Dexterra application Server, Conflicts are resolved in one of four ways: First Update Wins, Last Update Wins, Admin Resolution or Server-side Rule

First Update Wins

Under the First Update model the application server will only accept changes of any record that is the first one to make an update. If a record is first updated by the back end data source and a conflict is detected by the Update Web Service, instead of returning an error, the Data Manager Web Service will drop the version provided by the client and return a copy of the latest version of the record from the back end enterprise data source to the mobile client.

Last Update Wins

Under the Last Update Wins model, the server need not detect conflicts. Instead, it simply persists the changes from the mobile client to the back end enterprise data source overwriting the current record in the back end enterprise data source.

Admin (or Manual) Resolution

When configured for Admin/Manual resolution, the server will treat all conflicts as requiring manual intervention to resolve and will return a copy of the current record from the back end enterprise data source and optionally notify via any notification service (SMS, Emai, etc.) that a conflict situation has arisen and allow for resolution via the Dexterra Administrator. Doing so allows for column level conflict resolution since the Administrator determines the values to reapply back to the back end enterprise data source selectively.

Server Side Rules

Customizable Server Side Rules can be created to determine more programmatically and specifically how certain conflict situations should be resolved. For example, a conflict may be resolved based on the values of data in a record. This flexibility allows for complete control over the specific actions surrounding a conflict resolution scenario.

Client Deployment from the Server

The application server contains the definition of one or more mobile field applications that are to be downloaded to the mobile client, including the Forms/screens represented as tasks (referred to as “FormFlows”), data-interactions (referred to as a “FieldFlow”), and groups of FormFlows and FieldFlows constructed into a Business Process/Workflow (called a “ForceFlow”). The FormFlows, FieldFlows, and ForceFlows are described further below. The application definition also includes the configured metadata associated to an application such as View, Business Object, Business Constants definition. Also included in the deployment is the specific business data from one or more back end enterprise data sources required to run the mobile client in an “occasionally” connected state.

The application server provides the foundation on which to deliver and manage applications and to connect to existing enterprise data sources and systems. The mobile enterprise platform applications are distributed and managed to the mobile devices, such as Pocket PC and Tablet PC devices, by the application server, providing a highly manageable administration of all user interfaces in the field.

C. Administrator Component

As noted above, the Administrator component (FIG. 1) allows system administrators to perform changes that are relatively regular or frequent. The Administrator component provides access to decision variables, drop-down list content, and other information in a format appropriate for business analysts or administrators to manage. This approach to administration allows system administrators to extend many functions down to the Administrator level without compromising system integrity.

For example, data comprising business information that is used to define the business processes of the enterprise can be received through a Business Objects definition form. The Configuration Web Service provides access to this aspect of the Administrator component.

D. Client Component

As noted above, the client 102 (FIG. 1) in the enterprise platform architecture provides a framework in which the mobile application allows the use of role-based business processes using techniques referred to as “ForceFlow”, “FieldFlow”, and “FormFlow”, and using Web Services, thus enabling communications between the mobile client and the Dexterra application Server and the enterprise data sources over a LAN/WAN network, such as the Internet, via wired and wireless connections. The mobile application running on the client devices functions in a manner that is optimized for small form-factor devices providing an exception, easy to learn user experience.

In the illustrated system, the client is an object framework that is built utilizing the “.NET Compact Framework” of Microsoft Corporation that is metadata aware. The client component enables delivery of enterprise-class application functionality on the mobile devices, which preferably operate according to the “PocketPC” operating system or Microsoft Tablet PC operation system from Microsoft Corporation. The client component also integrates with existing “PocketPC” functionality to provide seamless integration with Calendar, Task, and Today screen functionality of the PocketPC interface. It thereby provides a stable, effective environment in which to work.

FormFlows, FieldFlows, ForceFlows

Any business process tasks or steps or operations in the form of display screens are called “FormFlows”. The FormFlows are used to initiate process interactions called “FieldFlows” that allow the initiation of business processes, which are referred to as “ForceFlows”. The FieldFlows allow launching of “out of band” ForceFlows to bring real-world elasticity to the business processes.

The FormFlows are broken into three categories: (1) Information; (2) Activity; and (3) Update. An Information FormFlow is a screen that shows information needed by a mobile user to fulfill the next logical task in the business process. An Activity FormFlow is a screen that shows something the user may need to do or perform. An Update FormFlow is a screen that is displayed when a mobile user is prompted to enter data that will be returned to the host applications (the enterprise data sources).

A FieldFlow may be required, for example, when a part might have failed and a search of inventory databases might need to be performed to see if any matching parts or similar problems with solutions exist and are available, called a lookup, or a FieldFlow may be required when a part might need to be ordered or assigned or scheduled for delivery to the client, a FieldFlow called an update.

A ForceFlow is a business process, and therefore is a collection of FormFlows and FieldFlows. An example of a ForceFlow would be time, travel, and expense recording that is associated with a job or dispatch event.

Referring back to FIG. 2, this block diagram shows how the relationships between columns and fields in the target application are related to information In the “FormFlows” (steps in the business process represented as ‘Forms” in the application) and are then associated into the ForceFlow (the business process). There can be many Business Objects in one FormFlow and potentially more than one FormFlow in any business process.

Filters allow characteristics and conditions to be placed onto the data when referenced in the mobile application. For example, data type (e.g., Date), valid types (e.g., only Monday through Friday), and any conflict conditions may be detected. Other filter characteristics and conditions can be configured.

Views define the data and storage location for use in one or more Business Objects, and the Business Object can be based on one or more Views. This allows additional characteristics to be associated. For example, a Business Object may be referred to as “Customer”, which may Include standard customer details; location, contacts, inventory, and also SLA and other attributes that the application would like to classify as Customer but not held in the same Target table or even Target application.

V. Adapter Architecture

The adapter architecture in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. Some of the components illustrated in FIG. 4 are analogous to components illustrated in FIG. 1. Components in FIG. 4 that perform functions for which a corresponding component is provided in the FIG. 1 system will be identified in FIG. 4 with the same reference numeral, except for beginning with “4” rather than “1”.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a suitable computer system environment 400 constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a mobile client device 402, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device that operates in conjunction with the Microsoft PocketPC or Palm PDA operating systems. The client device 402 includes the same components as described in connection with the client device 102 of FIG. 1, but are not illustrated in FIG. 4 for simplicity of illustration. The mobile client device 402 communicates over a network connection 404 with an application server 406 to request data from the server and receive data updates, provide new data, and receive configuration changes. It should be understood that multiple mobile clients 402 can communicate with the server 406. Only a single client device 402 is shown in FIG. 4 for the sake of drawing simplicity.

The mobile clients 402 consume the server-side connector web services for real time data retrieval from multiple enterprise data stores. Additionally, the mobile clients consume the server-side data manager web services for the management of real-time client-side data updates, server side data updates and system configuration updates.

The application server 406 communicates with enterprise data sources 408, such as CRM data sources, ERP sources, financial system resources, legacy data stores, and the like.

A “Dexterra Studio” component 430 communicates with the server 406 and includes an administrator application and a developer application (not illustrated in FIG. 4). More particularly, the Studio component interfaces with the Configurator of the server 406, and a data server DDS interfaces with the server and the Adapter Framework of the server 406, which communicates with the enterprise data sources 408.

The Adapter Framework provides an interface that will enforce specific inputs and outputs required in moving data between the server 406 and any other enterprise data source. The Data Manager of the server 406 will request and respond to any properly defined connector component to communicate with the enterprise data sources 408 through the Adapter Framework. Thus, the server 406 uses the definition of the Connection Objects, Command Objects, Data Objects, and Views to determine how and what data to retrieve or persist to a back end enterprise data source.

A design tool kit (“Dexterra Adapter Designer”, or DAD) is supplied with the Studio 430 to permit developers to specify the components of the Adapter Framework. That is, the DAD 430 provides a developer with the means to connect and construct Adapter Framework data components to any Dexterra Supported Adapter utilizing the Dexterra Studio VS.NET plug-in. Components include Connection Objects, Command Objects, Data Objects, and Views.

Using the DAD 430, a developer will create a Connection Object to a back end data source using a Dexterra Supported Adapter. This Connection Object will expose (either using Discovery/Intraspection or Description) the data interface object(s) available through the Adapter as either a Table, Stored Procedure, Script or Object (EAI, etc.) Using the Dexterra Adapter Designer, a developer will then create a series of Command Objects that perform specific actions through an Adapter such as Select, Insert, Update and/or Delete. A developer then defines a Data Object in which they will select the appropriate Select Command, Insert Command, Update Command, and/or Delete Command. A View is then bound to the Data Object for its request/respond actions. Using this tool and architecture, a developer can request and persist data from one or more back end enterprise data sources mapped to a single defined data object within the Dexterra Server 406, thus providing a layer of abstraction to the physical data structure and interface capabilities.

A. Command Objects

The Command Object of the Adapter Framework defines an action to be performed through an Adapter (i.e., Connector) to retrieve or persist data. For example, a “SaveCustomer” command might be defined to save a Customer data object to an enterprise data source through an Adapter. Command types or formats will be determined by the Adapters according to the enterprise data sources with which they interface and therefore must support. For example, potential Command types for a mobile data system might include Table, Procedure, SQL, Script, and Object.

The Command Objects will specify an action that will be performed. In accordance with the invention, the Command action types include five defined actions: (1) READ, (2) ADD, (3) UPDATE, (4) REMOVE, and (5) READ for EDIT. These Command actions are described further below in conjunction with the Data Object discussion. Command Objects can specify filters, which will operate when a Command is executed. Each filter will operate on data in accordance with the data type of its corresponding Command type. A Command will include a Column attribute, which comprises the columns of data that are returned when the Command is executed. Lastly, a Command includes parameters that specify values necessary for proper execution of the Command.

B. Data Objects

The Data Object associates Command Objects to retrieve or persist data, logically grouping them into a single object (e.g. a Customer object). A Data Object is defined by (that is, it is the result of) Commands that are executed on enterprise data sources, through the Adapters. As noted above, Commands include READ, ADD, UPDATE, REMOVE, and READ for EDIT. The READ Command is a Command object that will retrieve data, define which data columns are returned and what their attributes are, and will override Data Types for casting from Adapter to the “.NET” paradigm. The ADD Command is a Command object that will persist new instances of data through an Adapter to insert new data instances back into the corresponding enterprise data source. The UPDATE Command is a Command object that will persist changes to existing data items through an Adapter back to the corresponding enterprise data source. The REMOVE Command is a Command object that will remove data from an enterprise data source through an Adapter. The READ for EDIT Command is a Command object that will retrieve a single record with a RowLock through an Adapter.

The Data Objects will map the return elements of the READ Command to the parameters of the ADD, UPDATE, REMOVE, and READ for EDIT Commands. A single Data Object can retrieve and persist data through different Commands to potentially different Adapters.

C. Connections

As before, the Connections will interface to the enterprise data sources to provide data access by the mobile client application. In the Adapter Framework 430 described in connection with the present invention, the Connections will not communicate directly with Views, but will instead interface directly with the Command Objects, which will eventually exchange data with the Data Objects and Views.

D. Views

In the Adapter Framework in the Server 430 of the FIG. 4 configuration, a View is not bound to a single data table, as was the case in the FIG. 1 configuration. Rather, a View is bound to a Data Object with defined Commands for READ, ADD, UPDATE, REMOVE, and READ for EDIT. Thus, a much more versatile data interface is provided. The structure of a View is defined by the selected data columns specified in the READ command for the Data Object. In addition, filters are no longer created at a View object, but are created at a Command Object.

As described further below in the next section, the View types of the FIG. 4 system include Direct Views, Derived Views, Delegated Views, and Definition Views. The configuration of the View Objects in the server 430 enables abstraction of View CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations to the enterprise data sources, and enables CRUD to be defined instead of hard coded.

VI. View Types

As noted above, mobile clients gain access to business enterprise data sources through configurable Views that interface with the data sources through Data Objects that are defined by Commands, which in turn communicate with the data sources through Connectors (also referred to as Adapters). Each type of View will interface to the data sources with a different functionality so that communications links and other system resources can be used more efficiently.

In the system illustrated in FIG. 4, the View types include Direct Views, Derived Views, Delegated Views, and Definition Views. As described further below, these new View types provide greater control over data interfaces and can be configured for greater utilization of system resources.

A. Direct Views

A Direct View will retrieve data directly from an enterprise data source via the Data Objects, Commands, and Adapters. A Direct View is a type of View that is defined for the mobile client only. Most View types retrieve their requested data by resorting to a local client relational data store (cache) called SQLCE. In contrast, the Direct View type requests data directly from the enterprise data sources instead of going to the local client data store cache. In the event of a failed connection to the enterprise data sources, the FIG. 4 system provides an optional FailOver operation that can retrieve data from the SQLCE if the enterprise data sources are not available. This permits a Client/Server-like operation of a Mobile Application where control over what data is persisted locally, as compared to what data is required in real-time (such as inventory data), can be configured.

When the mobile application for the system (FIG. 1) is planned and designed, the application developer can select a View (defined in terms of Data Objects) to be a Direct View. Such design decisions can be specified through system development tools, which will be referred to as “Dexterra Unified Development Environment Tool” or as the “Dexterra Adapter Designer” (DAD) tool. Typically, use of a Direct View by a mobile client is best implemented as part of the View Filter conditions for client variables so as to limit the results returned from the backend datasource to be user specific.

When the application is running on the mobile client, the mobile client will request data from a View during a Business Object Request (called a FindSet operation). The mobile client will see that the View is a Direct View, and will therefore make the data request of the View directly to the Dexterra Server using the Data Manager and passing any Environment or User Defined variables for the View Filter. The Data Manager will retrieve the data for the View from the backend enterprise datasource (which could be a Default, Derived, or Delegated View Type) and will return the data to the client, which will then return the results of the data retrieval to the Business Object.

B. Derived Views

A Derived View provides the ability to derive (abstract) a definition of data from one or more defined Views within the data server of the system. This enables a data item to be defined based on one or more data structures that are predefined as a View. A Derived View will incorporate filter parameters and will request data from a server that retrieves a base set of associated data at runtime from the enterprise datasources and then places the retrieved data into a relational data engine (RDE) that applies the Derived View filter parameters to extract filtered data and provide it to the requesting Derived View type. Thus, Derived Views can filter data from one or more other Views from different enterprise data sources (such as Siebel, Oracle, etc.) using common ANSI SQL operations, thus utilizing the power of a relational engine such as SQL Server or Oracle.

Derived Views are defined in system metadata and are constructed at runtime within the Dexterra Server (which is stateless) to provide for the data abstraction rather than predefining the structure as a table or defined object, giving true flexibility towards change in the enterprise.

Using the Dexterra Unified Development Environment Tool, a developer first creates one or more base Views of type Default, Delegated, or Defined and configures filter conditions, permissions, and the like. A Default type can be set to be one of the remaining View types, as desired. After the base View is created, a Derived View can be created by selecting one or more Views and defining the attributes of the View (such as the fields) to map and the filter condition to apply to the data returned from the base Views.

At runtime, the Dexterra Server will respond to a Derived View request by first retrieving the data from the base Views of the Derived View and then will put the retrieved data into a relational engine such as SQL Server or Oracle, and then apply the Derived View Filter Condition (as SQL) against the data and return the data for delivery to the Data Manager for comparison and for preparation of delivery to the mobile client.

The Derived View is illustrated in FIG. 5, which illustrates operation of a system 502 with a Derived View (indicated as “V3” in FIG. 5) that is based on a “V1” View and a “V2” View, such that the V1 View retrieves Customer data from a Siebel database 504 and the V2 View retrieves History data from the Siebel database. The V3 View specifies only a subset of History data for retrieval, which is accomplished through filter conditions of V3. The data subset is then returned to the mobile client 506. The V2 View is a type of Defined View, in that only a subset of the order history is called for by the V2 View. The referential data store 508 contains metadata from which the specified data can be retrieved; it does not contain raw data of the order history. Thus, the data that must be retrieved from the database 504 and returned over the communications links will be reduced, because only the data of interest is actually pulled from the database and sent to the Derived View V3.

C. Delegated Views

The Delegated View provides the ability to delegate, or cache, data from one or more backend enterprise data sources on the Dexterra Server and configure the Dexterra Server to retrieve and update its cache based on a predefined set of rules, such as a timer interval (every hour, etc.) or a predetermined event (referred to as server side rule triggering). Thus, a Delegated View will periodically retrieve data from the enterprise data sources according to parameters of the Delegated View and will place the retrieved data into a Relational Data Engine cache.

Using the Dexterra Unified Development Environment Tool, a developer creates a View based on a specific Adapter-supported object type, such as Table, Object, Stored Procedure, Script, or the like. The developer then configures the filter conditions, permissions, and associated object parameters and then marks the View as a Delegated View and configures the update functions of the filter, such as filter time interval, event rules, and so forth. Thereafter, at runtime, the Data Manager of the Dexterra Server will automatically request data for the View from the defined Adapter at the set time interval or server side event and will cache the data in the local RDE.

In response to a mobile client request, the Data Manager of the Dexterra Server will retrieve the data from the local RDE instead of requesting the data defined by the View from the Adapter that is connected to the enterprise data source. A filter condition can apply to the local RDE source, thereby increasing the performance of the request and offloading the dependent back end data source for that defined set of data.

Thus, after the server executes automatic data retrievals based on the specified update functions, subsequent requests from mobile clients for enterprise data can be filled by getting the requested data from the RDE cache rather than directly from the enterprise data sources, thereby reducing the data traffic between the mobile client and the data sources. Updated data from mobile clients is returned directly to the enterprise data sources through the Adapters.

D. Definition Views

A Definition View provides the ability to create a user-defined View in the situation where there is no backend data store in the enterprise to retrieve or persist the data. This ability can be commonly used to either augment a backend system for functionality required in the mobile offering that is not part of the enterprise system. Another use might be to enable the enterprise to relate data from the mobile application to data in the backend enterprise data sources without modifying the backend enterprise system. A user-defined View (Definition View) will have an option for “ServerOnly” or “ClientOnly”. The ServerOnly option can be used to store data for purposes of augmenting a backend data process but not required for the mobile application. The ClientOnly option can be used to store additional data elements to be used in the mobile application such as pick lists, constants, enumerators, and so forth.

A Definition View permits control over where retrieved data is maintained, either at the system server or at the mobile client. The extent of system resources will generally determine selection between the two configurations.

To utilize Definition Views, a developer uses the Dexterra Unified Development Environment Tool to create a View by defining the data structure, including field names, data types, and default values that will store the business data. Then the developer can create a filter as well as a permissions set for controlling access. The ServerOnly option can be selected, which would not create the View definition on a mobile device. The ServerOnly definition would be a worker View used for other operations, such as a Derived View. The ClientOnly definition would create the View on the Client device only. If this option is selected, the user would be able to enter seed data manually, import data from a delimited source or XML file, and export the data to an XML file.

The Dexterra Server will use the Defined View structure in the RDE as its backend datasource. In the case of the ServerOnly option, the View definition will not be created on the Mobile client data cache (SQLCE). In the case of the Default or ClientOnly option, the View Definition will be created as a table in the local client cache (SQLCE). If ClientOnly, it will be seeded with the data configured on the server (user entered or imported).

E. Relational Data Engine

In conjunction with the configurable Views, the system also includes a Relational Data Engine (RDE) within the framework at the server 406 (see FIG. 4). Alternatively, the RDE could be located at other computers of the platform system that can communicate with the server. The RDE uses a standard syntax such as ANSI SQL in the real-time communication of data from one or more backend enterprise data sources 408 to one or more mobile client devices 402 in a stateless way. As described above, the RDE is useful for Derived Views, Delegated Views, Defined Views, and is also utilized for complex filter conditions, state modeling of mobile clients, comparisons of client data, and the like. That is, the RDE is utilized in accordance with the specific View types, as set forth above.

As the Dexterra Server moves data from one or more backend enterprise datasources to one or more mobile clients, it utilizes the power of the RDE to store the data in real time without the need for a static definition of a data model mapping to the definition of the data. The RDE is used to take advantage of the power of a standard use syntax such as ANSI SQL to promote the correlating of data in filter conditions or data abstraction.

F. Metadata Business Objects

To utilize the configurable Views and RDE, the system utilizes metadata business objects that provide the ability to create and define a Business Object in meta data that is bound to one or more Views from one or more backend enterprise data sources that can be used by one or more mobile client applications utilizing the Dexterra Studio VS.NET plug-in. This provides the ability to create relationships to one or more other Business Objects for a true object oriented application component architecture utilizing the Dexterra Studio VS.NET plug-in.

Use of the RDE is achieved using the Dexterra Unified Development Environment Tool to configure the definition of a Business Object including Properties, Default Values, Relationships, Filter Conditions, Permissions, Associated Applications and Business Rules. At runtime, the mobile client, upon request from a Business Object, creates an object instance based on the metadata definition. This enables the client application to then execute operations such as Find, FindSet, Save, and Delete. The mobile client will perform these operations against the defined View attributes for the Business Object. This may retrieve or update data on the local device, for example.

VII. Configuration and User Interface

In the Adapter Framework in the Server 430 of the FIG. 4 configuration, a View is not bound to a single data table, as would be the case in a system without the present invention (and as indicated in FIG. 2). Rather, a View is bound to a Data Object with defined Commands for READ, ADD, UPDATE, REMOVE, and READ for EDIT. Thus, a much more versatile data interface is provided. The structure of a View is defined by the selected data columns specified in the READ command for the Data Object.

In the system that utilizes the View object configuration of the present invention, filters are created at a Command Object, rather than at a View object. The configuration of the View Objects in the server 430 enables abstraction of View CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations to the enterprise data sources, and enables CRUD to be defined instead of hard coded. Other than the changed View configuration and concomitant changes such as for creation of filters, the remaining components illustrated in FIG. 1 can be utilized for a mobile platform system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic representation of the data architecture for the mobile platform illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprising an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows that a View object of the data system has a ViewID and is bound to a defined Data Object. FIG. 6 shows that the Data Object can include one or more commands from among a READ command, an ADD command, an UPDATE command, a REMOVE command, and a READ for EDIT command.

FIG. 6 shows that Command objects also are bound to the Data Objects, and also are bound to Connection objects, which are in turn bound to Adapter objects. FIG. 6 shows that the Adapter objects interface with a metadata store that interfaces with the enterprise datasources to retrieve data for the mobile platform, as described above.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the data access configuration for the mobile platform constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 7 shows that a mobile client (indicated as “Dexterra Client” in FIG. 7) communicates with the application server (“Dexterra Server” in FIG. 7) through a View object at the server, where the View object interfaces with a Data Object to act through Command objects to access Adapter objects that ultimately interface directly with enterprise datastores (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server and Siebel data servers in FIG. 7). At the client device, the mobile application communicates data requests through a smart client to metadata stores and business data stores to the View objects at the application server.

FIG. 8 illustrates how access to the DAD features of the mobile platform system is gained through a file explorer type of graphical user interface. FIG. 8 is a screenshot of a display on a computer device that is hosting the DAD computer program application. In FIG. 8, the display is a window-type display titled “Dexterra Explorer” and shows a workspace with a file tree view. The tree view shows a hierarchy of “Servers” with server names indicated as Solomon, Tempest, Ultrium, and Thunder. It should be apparent that server names may be arbitrary selected.

In accordance with the DAD program, a variety of actions can be taken with respect to a selected server. FIG. 8 shows that the “Solomon” server has been selected, with the Data Access menu item being highlighted to show that data access options can be investigated. Beneath the Data Access menu item, submenus are shown, comprising Data Sources, Datasource Types, Commands, Data Objects, and Views. Using the DAD program and the explorer menu, a mobile application designer can specify new datasources and can interface with corresponding Adapters to gain access to enterprise datasources for the mobile clients that will use the developed application.

FIG. 9 shows a designer having selected “Datasource Types” on the Dexterra Explorer menu and FIG. 9 shows that a context menu is generated, providing the designer with options to add a new datasource type, or refresh the view, or edit a datasource type, or delete a datasource type. Thus, selecting a Dexterra Explorer menu item can generate a context menu that provides a menu of additional operations on the selected menu item. FIG. 10 shows selection of the Data Sources menu item from FIG. 9, illustrating exemplary data sources available in the system under design. FIG. 11 shows selection of a particular datasource type, from which a context menu may be generated for editing operations on the selected datasource type. FIG. 12 shows View types that are available for selection. As with the other Dexterra Explorer menu items, selecting the View menu item will generate a context menu that allows a designer to perform editing operations on View types, including create, edit, and delete.

As noted above, if the “Data Sources” node on the Dexterra Explorer menu is selected, a new Data Source can be specified via a context menu that is generated by the Explorer program. FIG. 13 shows a Data Sources Properties dialog box that is generated by utilizing a Data Sources context menu to create a new type of Data Source. FIG. 13 shows that the designer is presented with a screen that permits selection of a data adapter, based on the data types available to the designer. In FIG. 13, the available adapter types are shown as OLE DB for SQL Server, OLE DB for Oracle, Clarify Adapter, and Remedy Adapter. These adapter types are shown for purposes of illustration only; it should be understood that additional and different adapter types could be provided in accordance with the teachings of the invention. FIG. 13 shows that the designer also can specify a Connection type. After selecting an Adapter, the designer would select the Connection display button to specify the connection parameters.

FIG. 14 shows an authentication screen for the designer to provide login information and choose a particular enterprise datasource target. Once the designer is authorized, the display will be changed in accordance with the selected adapter. After a new datasource is defined, using the DAD interface, a new datasource type node will appear in the Dexterra Explorer tree view (FIG. 11), in accordance with the designer's newly defined datasource type.

Other nodes can be created, added, edited, and deleted from the Dexterra Explorer tree view. FIG. 15 shows a designer making a Command selection from the tree view. Selection of “Add New Command” in FIG. 14 generates the “New Command” dialog box of FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 shows that a name can be entered for the new command, along with parameters to specify datasource, action, data type, and source, and also space for entry of a SQL statement. FIG. 17 shows that the Parameters tab of the Add Command dialog accepts additional command specifications.

Among the control parameters for the Add New Command dialog box of FIG. 16 are:

Command Name Textbox—The DAD user enters a name to uniquely identify the command. On “save” there is a validation that the Command Name is unique.

Datasourse—This is a drop-down list of datasources that have been defined. This information is discovered from metadata. Every command is required to have a corresponding datasource.

Command Type (Action)—This is a drop-down list of the different types of commands available. Every command is required to have a command type.

Data Group box—This group box includes tabs for “Main” and “Parameters”, and contains the controls to define the actions of the command. This box will be different depending on the chosen datasource. For example, the illustrated display in FIG. 16 is for a RDBMS such as SQL Server. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a system such as an Oracle/Siebel system probably would not have the “SQL Statement” text box.

Source Type radio button—Selecting this radio button enables the two corresponding combo boxes (Datasource and Source Type) and disables the SQL Statement textbox. This radio button indicates the designer is using the enterprise objects available by the enterprise data system.

Source Type box—is a list indicating the types of Enterprise Objects available from the enterprise system. An example of source types includes tables, views, or stored procedures in SQL.

Source box—a drop-down list of the available enterprise objects for the user to select based on the filtering by type.

SQL Statement radio button—Selecting this radio button enables the corresponding textbox and disables the SourceType and Source combo boxes. This radio button indicates the designer is going to specify the SQL Statement that this command shall execute.

SQL Statement text box—The designer enters a SQL statement to be executed by the command.

Among the parameters for the Add New Command—Parameters dialog box of FIG. 17 are:

Parameters list box—Contains a list of parameters for the selected Enterprise Object, if they pertain. FIG. 17 shows parameters of Return Value and CustomerFirstName.

Parameter Properties group box—shows a grouping of controls that describe the properties of the selected parameter.

Name text box—The name of the selected parameter. In FIG. 17, this textbox is grayed out to indicate it is disabled because the parameter name cannot be edited.

Direction box—This contains a drop-down list of the direction types a parameter can have, such as Input, Output, and Input/Output.

Data Type box—This contains a drop-down list of the datatypes available for the parameter, if applicable.

Required box—Contains the Boolean values True or False and thereby indicates whether or not the parameter is required.

Value text box—This text box is available if a value for the parameter is to be forced.

After the editing process is completed, the tree view in the Dexterra Explorer will be updated to reflect any added items. For example, FIG. 18 shows that a new Command called “CustomerQuery” has been added to the tree view. Thus, the name command will be available to any subsequent developer who uses DAD to interface to the Solomon server. It should be noted that the new CustomerQuery command also could be manipulated (copied, moved, edited and moved, etc.) to another node of the tree view, using the Dexterra Explorer graphical user interface and editing commands.

Thus, the View Object configuration described herein supports multiple View types for increased flexibility in the operation of the mobile data platform. The new View Object configuration supports View types including Derived View, Delegated View, Direct View, and Defined View. Each View type will interface to the enterprise datasources with a different functionality, so communications links and system resources can be used with greater convenience, flexibility, and efficiency.

Thus, the Dexterra Explorer tool provides the ability to create custom enterprise connectivity to disparate backend datasources, and provides the ability to separate the connectivity to any backend enterprise system with the configuration and adaptation to the specific instance of an implementation. This allows the communications between the .NET interface and a backend system to be developed separately from the configuration of the information required from the backend system, thus creating an abstraction layer and allowing for a configuration tool to manage the adaptation, as described herein. In this way, the disclosed tool implements a specific Dexterra Adapter Interface that will bind to the Dexterra DataManager and enforce specific inputs and outputs required in moving data between the Dexterra Server and any of the enterprise datasources.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram that illustrates operation of the mobile data platform system as described above. In the first operation, represented in the flow diagram box numbered 1902, the method of processing data that is shared between multiple enterprise datasources and a mobile client that communicates with an application server begins with receiving a request from a mobile client for a data operation on data at one of the enterprise datasources. In the next operation, represented by box 1904, a configurable View Object is determined, wherein the View Object is adapted to be bound to a Data Object for execution of specified Command Object data actions corresponding to the requested data operation. In the last operation at box 1906, the operations on the data are performed as specified by the View Object, utilizing a Relational Data Engine.

The computer program tool referred to above as “DAD” for use by designers of mobile applications is provided to create custom enterprise connectivity to disparate enterprise datasources of the mobile data platform system. The DAD application program tool provides these features through the user interface illustrated in the drawings. Thus, the DAD application program tool provides a means for specifying application processing of data that is shared between the multiple enterprise datasources and mobile clients.

The computer program comprising the DAD tool can be installed on a computer apparatus or system, such as a desktop computer, notebook computer, or the like, so long as the DAD tool program can receive user input to carry out the connection adapter specifying process and can verify datasources, bindings, and the like. The configured adapters and Connection Objects can be included within a mobile data platform system and installed at an application server of the mobile platform such as described above, so that the operational features of the adapters can be utilized at the mobile clients for operations with the enterprise datasources.

As described above, the DAD tool provides a means for configuring a View Object that provides desired data operations on data objects stored at a back end enterprise datasource. When the configured View Object is incorporated into the mobile data platform, the mobile data platform carries out its operations on data requested by mobile clients in accordance with the specified View Object. In this way, the computer system provides a configurable View Object that is adapted to be bound to a Data Object in the computer system for execution of specified Command Object data actions in accordance with the View Object.

The present invention has been described above in terms of a presently preferred embodiment so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed. There are, however, many configurations for mobile enterprise data systems not specifically described herein but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has wide applicability with respect to mobile enterprise data systems generally. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements and implementations that are within the scope of the attached claims should therefore be considered within the scope of the invention. 

1. A computer system data architecture framework for use in a mobile data platform system for processing of data that is shared between multiple enterprise datasources and a mobile client that communicates with an application server, the data architecture framework comprising: a configurable View Object in the computer system that is adapted to be bound to a Data Object in the computer system for execution of specified Command Object data actions in accordance with the View Object; and a Relational Data Engine that performs operations on data as specified by the View Object.
 2. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the View Object is a Derived View type in which a data definition for requested data is derived from one or more View Objects at the application server.
 3. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the View Object is a Delegated View type in which requested data is retrieved from a delegated cache store at the application server.
 4. A computer system as defined in claim 3, wherein the delegated cache store provides data to which a predefined processing rule has been applied.
 5. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the View Object is a Definition View type in which requested data is provided in accordance with a data definition of the Definition View type.
 6. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the View Object is a Direct View type in which requested data is retrieved directly from one of the enterprise datasources.
 7. A computer system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a Connection Object that provides an interface to a back end enterprise data source and exposes a data interface object available through the Connection Object as either a Table, Stored Procedure, Script, or Object; a Command Object that performs specific data actions; a Data Object that permits a mobile data client to specify one of the Command Object data actions to be performed on the data interface object; and a View Object that is adapted to be bound to the Data Object for execution of the specified Command Object data actions.
 8. A computer system as defined in claim 1, wherein the data actions include at least one action from among data actions comprising Select, Insert, Update, and Delete.
 9. A method of processing data that is shared between multiple enterprise datasources and a mobile client that communicates with an application server, the method comprising: receiving a request from a mobile client for a data operation on data at one of the enterprise datasources; determining a configurable View Object that is adapted to be bound to a Data Object for execution of specified Command Object data actions corresponding to the requested data operation; and performing operations on the data as specified by the View object utilizing a Relational Data Engine.
 10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the determined View Object is a Derived View type in which a data definition for requested data is derived from one or more View Objects at the application server.
 11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the determined View Object is a Delegated View type in which requested data is retrieved from a delegated cache store at the application server.
 12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the delegated cache store provides data to which a predefined processing rule has been applied.
 13. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the determined View Object is a Definition View type in which requested data is provided in accordance with a data definition of the Definition View type.
 14. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the determined View Object is a Direct View type in which requested data is retrieved directly from one of the enterprise datasources.
 15. A method as defined in claim 9, further comprising: determining a Connection Object that provides an interface to a back end enterprise datasource and exposes a data interface object available through the Connection Object as either a Table, Stored Procedure, Script, or Object in accordance with the determined View Object; determining a Command Object that performs specific data actions in accordance with the determined View Object; determining a Data Object that permits a mobile data client to specify one of the Command Object data actions to be performed on the data interface object.
 16. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the data actions include at least one action from among data Select, Insert, Update, and Delete.
 17. A computer system including a data architecture framework for use in a mobile data platform system for processing of data that is shared between multiple enterprise datasources and a mobile client that communicates with an application server, the computer system comprising: means for determining a configurable View Object in the computer system that is adapted to be bound to a Data Object in the computer system for execution of specified Command Object data actions in accordance with the View Object, wherein the data actions include at least one action from among data actions comprising Select, Insert, Update, and Delete; means for performing operations on data as specified by the View Object; and wherein the means for determining communicates with a Connection Object that provides an interface to a back end enterprise data source and exposes a data interface object available through the Connection Object as either a Table, Stored Procedure, Script, or Object, communicates with a Command Object that performs specific data actions, communicates with a Data Object that permits a mobile data client to specify one of the Command Object data actions to be performed on the data interface object, and communicates with a View Object that is adapted to be bound to the Data Object for execution of the specified Command Object data actions. 